Girolamo Russo Etna Rosato 2016

Accomplished musician turned Etna Rosso maestro Giuseppe Russo cultivates a few hectares of Nerello Mascalese just outside of Passopisciaro on the north slopes of Mount Etna.

Giuseppe creates a very small number of rosato bottles for friends and family. I'm lucky enough to get some through Giuseppe's way-cool importer, Oliver McCrum.

If you like rose wines (and you should), you're going to love this Etna Rosato. Fresh raspberries & cherries, a touch of strawberry on the finish, some minerality from the soil around grumbly Mt. Etna, and balanced acidity that is just simply delicious.

Giuseppe is getting huge attention as one of the best Etna producers, with his San Lorenzo cru wines regularly winning the Gambero Rosso 3 Bicchieri award, and folks like James Suckling and Jancis Robinson showering him with vinous superlatives.

This is tiny-production Etna Rosato at its finest, with just 100 cases made. Think about that.